iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement

Written By: Chris Green (and 3 other contributors)

Comments: 7
Favorites: 22
Completions: 39

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

10 - 20 minutes

Introduction

The iMac G3 Uses a 3.5" IDE Hard Drive. It supports data partitions no larger then 128GB and boot partitions no larger then 8GB (The 8GB limit only applies to iMac G3 tray loaders).

Tools

Parts

No parts specified.

Step 1 Logic Board

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement, Logic Board: step 1, image 1 of 1

The iMac G3. This was a great computer for the time, and had plenty of features.

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Step 2

Start by flipping the iMac upside-down. It may help to lay it on a towel, so you don't damage the screen, or scratch the face.

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Step 3

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

Remove this Phillips screw.
Using a flathead screwdriver, work your way around the bottom cover, until it comes off.
Then, lift the bottom cover up and out, and set it aside.

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Step 4

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

Now, remove the DB-15 Video connector from the logic board.
It may be helpful to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the thumbscrews.

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Step 5

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

Remove the power cable from the logic board assembly.

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Step 6

Remove the front panel connector. (You may also need to remove an additional screw that connects the front panel connector to the logic board assembly).

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Step 7

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

Now, remove these Phillips screws.
Now, grab the logic board assembly by the piece of plastic, and lift it out.

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Step 8

The logic board assembly. This is the heart of the computer, it contains the motherboard, CPU, RAM, V-RAM, PRAM battery, the hard drive, and the optical drive.

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Step 10

The optical drive is located near the front of the assembly.

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Step 11

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3

To remove the drive, push it in, lift up, and then pull forward.
As you pull the drive forward, disconnect the ribbon cable and set it aside.

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Step 12

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

Remove the two phillips #00 screws.
Then remove the board. This will reveal that it is a standard PATA drive.
Congrats, the drive is free! You can use any PATA-tray loading drive in the iMac G3 which means you can install a CDRW to burn CDs in OS9 or X(if using OSX,install that DVD writer) but, of course only original drives will match the great look of the iMac).

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Step 14

Start by removing these Phillips screws:
Now, remove all of these cables:

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At this step, the right screw refused to budge. I managed to strip the you-know-what out of it trying to extract it. Every tool I tried, it only got worse. I put it aside for the night and resigned myself to buying some stubborn/rusted-screw-extracting tool the next day. One of the lessons here is rest and walk away if you get frustrated because after a moment of clarity I had a crazy idea. What if I left the screw there and tried to remove the 4 HDD screws THROUGH the holes in the drive cage?! IT WORKED!

I carefully got to all the screws, simply lifted the HDD out of the still-attached bracket, unplugged the connectors and replaced it with a spanking new 120 GB IDE drive by sticking the screwdriver head into the small holes a la the kid’s game Operation! There is NO WAY I could have done this if 1) I didn’t have a magnetic-head screwdriver (thanks iFixit!) and 2) if there wasn’t an opening at the head of the drive cage on both sides for when the screws fell loose.

Hope this helps someone. Aloha!

Joshua Easter - Jun 29, 2021 Reply

Step 15

Now, remove the optical drive retention spring.
Push in on both sides, and pull towards you releasing the retention spring.
It may help to do it one side at a time.

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Note the orientation of the retention spring. The end towards the back should be pointing upwards.

Axel Wikström - May 31, 2022 Reply

Step 16

iMac G3 Model M4984 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 3 of 3

Now lift the drive up, and pull it out.
Make sure that no cables are snagged before completed pulling out the drive!

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If you have trouble getting the drive out, note that there are two small hooks on the underside of the drive cage keeping it in place. Get the hooks out of the holes and the drive will be freed. It can be a bit fiddly.

Axel Wikström - May 31, 2022 Reply

Step 17

When installing a new drive, make sure that the drive jumper block is set to "Single drive". In most drives, this means removing the jumper, or positioning the jumper horizontally instead of vertically, so you don't lose it.
To remove the drive from the metal caddy, remove these four screws from the side of the drive.

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